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About this Site and Me

Hi, I am an artist, wife, mom, gamer and the Elementary Art Educator at Donald Elementary, a sweet and wonderful school in Flower Mound, TX (outside of Dallas). This is a great place to see how we are integrating studio habits with technology and interdisciplinary connections.
I also love to share my "wisdom" (Re: Experiences. From mistakes.) about teaching Elementary Art.
I love what I do, and I've been doing it for a long time. Creating and teaching Art is what I live for. Enjoy.

I have returned to my home school of Donald ES in an attempt to hang over 1,000 student art projects with the vile packing tape. Little do I know that the DONALD ART SHOW has secretly taken on a life of it's own, with new expectations more powerful than the District Art Show. When completed, this ultimate showcase will spell excitement and joy for the small band of children struggling to navigate the crowded halls...

Friday, 1:00 pm. Students finish up selecting their own two pieces, which I dutifully record.

The art will be hung on 100 5 foot long pieces of black Kraft paper, and packing tape is the only adhesive that works on our walls. I have tried everything from sticky tack to masking tape to chewing gum (not really). With our wild temperature changes, it is the only thing that works.

10pm. Friday night. Still here. Art show must be all hung by the following Thursday, by 3pm.

Most of the work has already been labeled and mounted. It doesn't look it, but there is A LOT of work here.
And a lot is not even finished yet. Not stressing, yet....

Everyone is encouraged to write a positive Comment Card to their favorite artists.
My Art Club Helpers will sort and distribute them.

Comment Card for Kinder, 1st and anyone else who needs it -
I gave these directly to the teachers, they are not on the tables as I did not want older kids using these.
(...though they could affect the professional direction of each padawan)

QR codes link right back to the corresponding posts on my blog!
(they can also link directly into the personal attack computers aboard each x wing fighter)

·Flexible learning spaces: students are encouraged to sit, stand, sprawl to their hearts content, as long as they are thinking and acting as artists.

·Student work displayed in halls, online, in the community to further educate the public of the importance of Art Ed.

·Embracing the importance of STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, art and math) through knowledgeable curriculum integration, and taught by a knowledgeable master teacher.

·Seamless, meaningful integration of technology: Technology will not replace clay, painting, observational drawing, weaving, printmaking, etc. Technology is here to stay, and it can be used to make art even better!

·Using gamification and gaming as tools to allow our students to become creators, not just players.

·4th and 5th: personal iPad with access to a wide variety of technology and learning opportunities to meet 21st Century needs. This iPad travels with the student.

·MAC lab-class set for entire school use

·3 STEAM Labs

·Google Docs: used district-wide by staff and students to create and share documents. (We use Docs for our e-portfolios.)

Printing with Gelli plates

monoprints with texture and color theory

Drawing and iPads

He is using the time-lapse function to record his progress, which goes into the E-Portfolio!

Optical Illusions

3rd grade: using color and shape to create depth

Tech in the Art room

using tech to help with research, digital photography and e-portfolios